Psychiatric units across Ghana lack drugs despite the fact that some gift drugs meant for these hospitals are wasting away at Ghana's Ports.

According to deputy director of pharmacy services who is also in charge of Psycho drugs, scheduled requirement put in from 2011 for drugs supply have still not gone through.

JoyNews gathered that what is holding the release of these drugs is a letter of credit from the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection.

Our investigations reveal that Breastcare International was contacted by the Chief psychiatrist, Dr. Akwasi Osei, to help with drugs since the NGO on its tour to get drugs for breast cancer treatment also comes across psycho drugs that can be useful.

These drugs are referred to as gift drugs that according to experts, are modern and effective in the management of psychiatry disorders.

Documents available indicate that the Food and Drugs Authority, FDA, and other agencies have cleared the drugs since September 2014.

On average, Ghana needs $1.5 million for psychotherapy drugs for the entire country in a year. This has not been provided for in years and so at best, psychiatric doctors use old drugs that are not used anymore in other parts of the world.

Currently, the central government has provided for only eight (8) of the over 50 drugs requested for treatment by the psychiatry unit which encompasses all the psychiatric hospitals across the country.

Deputy Director of Pharmacy at the Accra Psychiatric hospital, Chief Coker Asiam explained to JoyNews that the system seems to be working because patients who can afford are buying most of the drugs while the central government looks on confirming that for now, the entire psychiatry unit is mainly surviving on donations from Breastcare International.

He said in the absence of drugs meant for treatment, the staff and everyone who comes into contact with the patient is in danger.

“Even the tranquilizers meant to put them to sleep when they are aggressive are unavailable. So what do we do? Are the nurses safe?”